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06/06/05 do you ever get sick of it all....?

In my life, day to day, sometimes I just get sick of it all. I think about all the things going on in our world.... war, poverty, illness/disease, crime.... and when it all comes down to it I tend to get annoyed with the little things. Such as, commercials on the radio & tv. I have a tape that I always turn on when commercials come on when I am at work. I don't have speakers on my computer at my desk so its not like I can listen to whatever I want online. I would love to have commercial free music and not have to listen to the dj's. But that is a whole nother Oprah !!!!!!

It just seems that when I think about the WHOLE big picture I feel so small. Is there anything I can do to make things better? Probably not. I think this may stem from an entry Trench did on TTC a while back.

I was just thinking about things while I am here alone, at my desk, looking outside at the other office buildings around me and all the cottonwood crap flying around and it all comes back to I am one person in a state of x thousand. Michigan is one of 50 states (some people say 51, WHY? I never say 51, even if that is correct, I will never say 51, because I don't consider D.C. a state.) Every state has x amount of people and the US has how many millions? I mean, I just think about how I am so small in this grand scheme of things and it is just over whelming sometimes. I understand why some people refuse to go outside for their whole lives, its a great big world out there.

I spoke with an old friend this weekend that has been singing on a cruise ship for the past 9 months or something like that. She was saying that its hard to be patriotic these days and support the government and all the other shit that's going on when you know what is going on is wrong in your own humble opinion. But, when she was travelling abroad she felt like the only thing she could stick firm to is the support of an awesome upbringing in the US and this is the best place to live in the whole world. She made several good points about travelling to other countries but they were merely cosmetic. Meaning, that the only thing awesome about going to other countries is the sights, nothing else.

So why does it take so much to prompt people to be so unsupportive of the US and what is going on in our world today? I don't really even know if that question makes sense but what I am getting at is and this applies to myself as well: why do so many people hate the US and bitch about everything going on today but they will never leave here to explore other countries and see what its really like in other countries? I guess its anyone who complains about the things they will not take the time to fix or attempt to change. I fall into this catergory, I complain about all that is wrong with the world but I would NEVER go to another country with the mind set that I would rather live there than here because I know how good we have it compared to several other countries. I mean for crying out loud, in Ireland they don't even have ice. What is that about??? And, that is a very trival meaningless thing but I require ice!!! I would have a fit !!!!! Now, lack of ice is not keeping me from travelling to Ireland, money is, and that is a whole Oprah week long show !!!!

I will end this with questions to you my public. Would you live anywhere else other than the US?? Would you consider trying to make a difference or sit on the sidelines and wait for others to do it? Would life be easier and better somewhere else? Less unemployment? Less crime?

Its one of the biggest double edged swords I have wielded in years !!! My last sword was, paper or plastic !!!!! Let me know what ya'll think !!!!

PS: Happy bday yesterday (sunday) Jim !!!! 31 :-O




Posted by dRc in dRc's crazy antics at 12:10 | Comments (7) | Trackbacks (0)

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#1 - Trench said:
2005-06-06 15:51 - (Reply)

Just remember, everyone sucks but you. :-)

#2 - reagan80 2005-06-06 16:19 - (Reply)

I'm never leaving this country for some socialist anti-American wasteland just to have the natives treat me like a leper for the rest of my life. Sorry, I'm not going to tear down this country like Johnny Depp in order to pander for respect from non-Americans.

If there is a Reaganite or semi-Libertarian Jesusland somewhere out there, I'd consider permanently emigrating, but I think I'm there already.

#3 - jim 2005-06-06 16:45 - (Reply)

Thanks dRc ...

I've been out of the country a few times and I found that the people were way better than the sites.
Short of a small selection of the world. There isn't all that much to see. Most of it is boring ruins of civilizations past that couldn't be all that impressive... they didn't survive.
Impressive buildings of variation like the pyramids are worth seeing (no I didn't get out to Egypt but I'd like to)
I did go to Honduras though and its not out of reach to see some amazing sites in the mountains. Not to mention the 2nd largest great barrier reef in the world lye's between the islands of Utila and Roatan. I spent most of my time there on the little island Utila. check out the little map and look north of the country to the bay islands. http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/honduras.htm

but even better than the sites were the people of Honduras. If your like me and just put yourself in the middle of whatever is going on.... you'll meet some people in this world that (even with nothing) manage to make your life a little brighter.
Imagine this... a woman of 60 or so years old, missing several teeth because she cant afford dental; lives a shack that probably couldn't hold up against a category 2 hurricane, it requires stilts because the island she lives on is only a few feet above sea level; with a plate of food (some rice, a tiny chunk of meat, and a stale looking hot dog bun) happy as a pig in shit because she has food that day... and she wants you to share in it. THAT'S HER FOOD !!! THE BEST SHE PROBABLY HAD IN WEEKS !!! AND SHE THINKS YOU SHOULD INDULGE TOO !!!

Whenever I'm sick of humanity, I remember her.
I know affordability makes things like this hard but the experience is worth it if you can get there.

It sucks that people aren't as supportive of our country as they should be. It sucks that other nations hate us as much as they do. but bear in mind that the people who hate our country wouldn't leave it (you said it too). They hate it because they cant have EVERYTHING they want, and they think its their right to have everything their way everyday no matter what because they are Americans and they should be able to have it all.
The other country's hate us because they don't have it this good. Listen to Yoda... "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering"

if all else fails... Trench has a pretty good theory too :-)

#4 - Mark said:
2005-06-06 16:58 - (Reply)

If you're depressed by the negativity the media bombards us with regularly, you must read this book ASAP:

It's Getting Better All the Time : 100 Greatest Trends of the Last 100 Years by Stephen Moore
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1882577973/qid=1118095019/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-3115395-2490205

#5 - jim 2005-06-06 17:39 - (Reply)

-or- Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom... I read that book when Im having a hard time dealing with people.

#6 - Dying Breed Bass 2005-06-06 18:00 - (Reply)

Not everyone in all the other countries hates America. I have three examples as follows, from each of the three countries I've been to (aside from Canada, 'cause Canada is America Junior, but without the money).

First country: Australia

While walking along the beach with a group of friends who were on the trip, we met this older gentleman. He must have been in his 50's or 60's. He comes up to us and says, "Are you Americans?" We answer yes, and he laughs. He starts saying how if someone tried to start shit with Australia, the US would send troops and ships and everything down to Australia as soon as they could. And he was just going on and on about how awesome America is, and how terrible September 11th was and all that. After talking to him for a few minutes, we went our seperate ways, and he left a lasting mark on me.

Second Country: New Zealand

First of all, let me say that Rugby kicks ass over American Football any day of the week. While there, talking to more people on the street (I do that here too, by the way. I'm just cool like that) and having them find out that I was American they were nothing but courteous and polite. And although some of them didn't agree with Bush, they still weren't like, "Oh, you stupid American bastard" or anything like that. That's why I loved New Zealand so much. Everyone was so laid back and they weren't so uptight about everything like people are here.

Now, I know you're probably like, "Well, Australia and New Zealand are our buddies, they've always been nice to us" or something. Well, here's one that might surprised you.

Third Country: France

Yes, France. I was talking to people on the streets (yes, again) and the people were more or less like, "Oh, America is cool" and all that. And then you even have the people who said, "We still remember what America did for us during World War two, and as far as I'm concerned, any American is welcome in France." And the most memorable part about my trip to France was visiting the graves of all the soldiers who had died on the invasion on D-Day. But that's a different story altogether.

I think the main problem with foreign countries, as well as our own, is the media only reports the anti-American stuff, and if that's not true, then that's all that we're hearing. Everyone always starts badmouthing the French people, and I'm there to back them up. It's the government and the media that's anti-American. Not the majority of the people. But then again, maybe I'm being naive and they were just lying to me and in all actuality, they hate Americans as much as we've all heard. But who knows? And as for the question, I'd love to move to New Zealand or Australia. Both places were wonderful, and I'd love to visit them again.

Sorry about rambling on so long. I'm leaving now.

#7 - jim 2005-06-06 18:30 - (Reply)

Maybe... the people from other countrys who "hate" America are the ones who now live in America and have assimilated to the fat redneck "I hate everything thats not like me" mentality.

Oh and I never answered your question... I wouldn't live in the countrys I visited only because they are all Central American and Carribean. I hate the hurricanes in FLA enough, why move closer to them ? Short of the weather problems... I'd live in Honduras, Aruba, Antigua or Barbuda.


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